PHOENIX — An emotional Louis Taylor, accused of setting a hotel fire in downtown Tucson, Ariz., that killed 29 people, said Wednesday that he felt a rush of emotions after his release from custody after more than 42 years.

Taylor, then 16, had maintained his innocence from that first night in December 1970 when he helped carry injured guests to safety. But just after the rescues, he was taken into custody for six hours of questioning. Eventually, he was charged with 28 counts of murder and was convicted in March 1972. He spent the next 41 years in prison.